ALPABLE fears have seized many residents of Lagos and Enugu states following reports by the Directorate of State Service (DSS) last Sunday that it arrested suspected Boko Haram leaders in different parts of the states and parts of the North.

The Directorate of State Security (DSS) last Sunday, said that it arrested over a dozen Boko Haram leaders in the past two months including nine in Lagos and one in Enugu State.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Tony Opuiyo, the service said: “The sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos State points to the determination of the sect to extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the state and in fact, other parts of the country. The arrest of these confessed terrorist elements has however helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the area.

“However, the Service is making efforts to conclude its investigations and commence prosecution of the suspects. The DSS is determined to work with other stakeholders in the fight against terror and other forms of criminality in our country. Citizens and residents are therefore called upon to rise to the occasion by volunteering useful information to the Service and relevant security agencies.”

The Nation’s findings revealed that the news has succeeded in sending shivers down the spine of the people as they are worried that the menace, which they were hearing from afar, may have come to their domain.

Dr DipoOkeyomi, a security expert, said the arrests were pointers that the south could come under terrorists’ attacks if adequate security measures are not put in place to check the spread of the menace.

Sunny, a resident of Gowon Estate, where one of the suspects was arrested, said he was covered by goose pimples when heard the news, adding: “It was the last thing I ever imagined in this vicinity. I have stopped moving around at night since the news was broken. I also don’t ride commercial motorcycles again because most of the operators in the estate are from the North. If it were possible for me to park out, I would do that immediately because for one suspect to have been arrested in the estate means there could be several others around, at least, the arrested suspect was caught in a particular house.”

Another resident, who gave her name as Biola, said she has temporarily sent her kids away from the estate.

“Does the news not require one to be proactive? It really does because it shows the estate may no longer safe as we now have terrorists living among us. I have been shunning crowded places and also stopped talking with strangers since that time because I don’t want to fall into the hands of terrorists.”

Rhoda Robinson, a social worker, believes the presence of Boko Haram anywhere in Lagos would not just be a threat to the life of individuals but also business opportunities.

“Their presence is a huge threat to the lives of women and girls who have been the hardest hit by the acts of terrorism in our country. Apart from the loss of livelihood and shelter which have been some of the results of their attacks, women and girls are targets of attacks and victims of sexual violence by these terrorists.”

MallamGambo Zachary, a dealer in onions at New Artisan Market where the suspect was said to have been arrested, said he was oblivious of the arrest, adding that he was doubtful of the presence of Boko Haram in the market.

He was of the view that if it was true that Boko Haram suspect was arrested in the market, such suspect might have been on transit.

Gambo said: “You see, these are onions (pointing at the onions on display), once garlic enters in their midst, it will be detected. It does not take us more ‎than one hour to notice the presence of criminals in this market. Even though there are yankwaya (marijuana smokers) among us, they conduct themselves in good manners.”

Another northerner in the market, Ali Balungu, responded with a loud laughter when asked about the arrest of a suspected Boko Haram member in the market.

He thereafter assured that “we are here, let them come, we are waiting for them”.

Balungu expressed confidence in the market’s traders, saying that they can easily identify their members and visitors. One of the indigenes in the market, AgboNwangene, said they only read and heard of the arrest of the Boko Haram member in the media.

Nwangene said: “We are not taking things for granted but are meeting with the leadership of the Hausa community with a view to putting in place adequate vigilance. I am also optimistic that the security agencies are always at hand to stem any eventuality.”

Ohaneze Youth Council, Arewa chiefs react

Reacting to the arrest in Enugu, the president of Ohanaeze Youth Council, MaziOkechukwuIsiguzoro, said the news came as a surprise to the group, adding that it justifies the protest against the transfer of arrested Boko Haram suspects from prisons in the North to Anambra State.

Calling on the people to be more security conscious, he said: “Ndigbo should watch out for any suspicious movement at churches, schools, motor parks, shopping malls,mosques etc. We also want to use this opportunity to call on all the five South East governors to beef up security in the areas we mentioned above and the entire region. They should put their party differences aside and work together to make sure that no part of the zone comes under Boko Haram attack because an injury to one is an injury to all.

“Ohanaeze youth security network is at alert and will do everything within the ambit of the law to resist the any attempt to spread their activities to the South East. The South East is no go area for them and they should stay clear from the region. They should consider giving up their unholy activities because the handwriting is on the wall, that the Buhari administration would not spare them. They should in their own interest embrace peace, or face the wrath of our gallant soldiers as they are doing their best to end insurgency and insecurity in the country. ”

Explaining the effects of the reported arrest on the people, the National Public Relations Officer of the group, Obinna Adibe, said: “ The social life of the people suffered a great deal after the arrest was reported. Many people chose to stay away from crowded places to avoid falling victim of any attack. Their anxiety was doused when the Commissioner of Police (CP), through the command’s spokesperson, denied the arrest.

Alhaji Mohammed Bambado, the Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, says that“The Arewa community in Lagos was worried when we heard the news and immediately started making calls to our people to find out what was happening. Some of the people we got in touch with confirmed the arrests.

“Thereafter, we called for an emergency meeting of our members and asked them to be watchful and leave no stone unturned in exposing and reporting any suspicious persons and movement within their domain.

“We are not averse to the raiding of suspected hideouts by security agents but it should not be done in a way that will cause tension among the people. I am sure that security operatives know what to do.

“The Hausa community in Lagos State has been peace-loving and working harmoniously with our hosts. We would not condone any act that is capable of straining this good relationship we have had over the years. I don’t think the arrest would have any negative implication for the Hausa community in the state because the people that were reportedly arrested were not based in Lagos. They were only looking for where to hide. But we can assure you that the Arewa community would continue to work with the state government in fostering peace and security in the state.”

One of the leaders of the Hausa community in Enugu, Mohammed Ayarvga, told The Nation that it will be difficult for the Boko Haram members to reside and operate in the state.

This, he said, was due to the fact that “we are all peace-loving people living among peace-loving hosts”.

He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the security agencies in the role they play to keep peace and order in the state, promising that “the Hausa community will always assist them in their duty”.

Mohammed, however, asked government and the security agencies to beef up their activities and ensure that the security and peace prevailing in Enugu did not slip.

However, a security analyst, who pleaded anonymity, allayed the fears of the people, saying that many of those arrested were probably those who were escaping from the North.

He said: “You know, the heat is really on the sect members. The anti-terrorism measures put together by President MuhammaduBuhari, immediately he was sworn in, are obviously paying off. Not only has he rallied international support and goodwill against the sect, the Nigerian Armed Forces, joined by their counterparts from Cameroun, Chad and Niger, have been well equipped and are now seriously dealing with the insurgents both from the air and the ground.

“It is like the rabbit that has been smoked out of its hole. The heat is really on the insurgents.And many of them are fleeing in different directions. They are looking for places to hide. So, I suspect strongly that most of those arrested were those fleeing from the heat of onslaught on them.

“That, however, is not to say that our security agencies should be complacent. But I believe, with the current measures in place, the government is on top of the game.”

What the people should do to avert dangers -Security expert, others

Dr Hon DipoOkeyomi, the Executive Director of Marial Security, said he was not surprised about the arrests in Lagos State, warning that their could be possible attacks by the terrorists if security is not beefed up in the south.

“It is imperative for the state governors in the south to beef up security to forestall possible attacks by the terrorists. The arrests are just pointers to the fact that they are bent on spreading their nefarious acts to the south. The police, DSS and other security agencies must up their intelligence gathering and not rely on their guns and other ammunition alone in the fight against the terrorists.

This is the primary responsibility of DSS instead of wasting public money hounding & abusing the rights of perceived political opponents of the President like they did with impunity during Jonathan’s maladministration and appear to be doing now in our era of change to good governance.
DSS, Police & Military are not meant to be used to abuse the rights of Nigerians, but to protect Nigerians with their own lives.

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